Sky’s DTT (Picnic) service ready for launch

There's some buzz about on a few websites concerning Sky's new DTT product - Picnic. It is claimed that Sky employees are now testing the pay-TV Freeview add-on in their homes. It got me thinking: Which UK media product or service has had the slowest release because of regulation? -- ...

New report questions Ofcom’s digital dividend review strategy

[this post was secretly written by Prince Harry] The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) just released a report that questions 'free market' policies with respect to the auction of UHF television spectrum made available by digital switchover. Here's the money quote: 'Given the high demand for HD broadcasting, an appropriate amount of UHF spectrum ...

Ofcom’s Ed Richards on the ‘functional separation’ remedy

Ed Richards yesterday gave a speech to the EU Parliament on the EU telecoms framework. His comments on functional separation include: 'Whilst functional separation has proven successful in the UK, we have never argued that it is necessarily appropriate for other markets. Clearly, many Member States may find that Functional ...

Off on holiday …

Posting will be light until 2 April ...

Ofcom release interim data on impact of junk food advertising rules

Ofcom yesterday released interim data on its HFSS (junk food) advertising regulations. It's data Ofcom have been sitting on for several months but had previously only released to industry insiders. That's unfortunate -- it took quite a bit of pressure for Ofcom to release this to the people ...

See this, do that…

Folks, some interesting stuff about lately.  Sadly, I will be in Miami Beach starting next week so I will have to miss these: 26 Feb 2008 -- Event:  Lecture at the LSE (6:30-8pm) -- Is Brussels Against New Media?  Details here. 1 Mar 2008 -- Deadline to submit abstracts for the LSE's Sept ...

Ofcom don’t dig the Jamie Oliver Flavour Shaker

From Ofcom's most recent broadcast bulletin: What is the level of prominence usually given to a basic kitchen utensil?

Ofcom initiate mobile sector assessment

Ofcom today announced a mobile sector assessment. Check it out here. Maybe it's the nature of this website -- I usually rag on Ofcom too much, but I think today's announcement is welcome news for a number of reasons: -- It's called an assessment, not the Future of Mobile. 'Future ...

18 March 2008 - Functional Separation Event - London

Our friends at ViB Events have scheduled an in-depth review of functional separation. Alex Blowers -- one of Ofcom's best -- will represent the regulator.  Click here to register.

Ofcom: Failing to communicate?

Yesterday I suggested that Ofcom were back-sliding on transparency -- refusing to share with its stakeholder community what it told the Byron Review. And I mentioned that -- if you want a laugh -- look at how out-of-date Ofcom's website is with respect to engagement with Parliament (it looks ...

About OfcomWatch

Mission - OfcomWatch is an informal group blog commenting on the processes and practices of the Office of Communications (Ofcom) and related media and communications regulation issues both in the United Kingdom and around the world...

Our Sponsors

OfcomWatch Readers Poll

2008 - who will have the best year?
View Results
May 9th 2008
Leave a Comment

Ofcom pluralism book: Tim Suter on impartiality in broadcasting

I thought one of the more engaging articles in Ofcom's recent book on pluralism was written by Tim Suter. In his piece Suter questions the notion that rules on due impartiality are coherent and future-proof. He writes in part: 'The fact that the requirement for impartiality stretches back to ...
May 6th 2008
Leave a Comment

UK no. 1 in broadband international league table…

According to the OECD's most recent statistics, the UK is number 1 in the international league table of people videoing their destruction of ADSL wireless routers: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgBNc8Z0Zxk[/youtube] What is it about BT Home Hubs that drive people to violence?
May 4th 2008
One Comment

The GMTV phone-in scandal: Was Ofcom too soft?

On Friday, Ofcom denied my FOI Act request to uncover how much money GMTV refunded to victims of its wrongdoing. Ofcom stated that the information was subject to exemption 44 under the FOI Act and also stated 'Ofcom have not conducted any follow up and therefore we do not ...
May 2nd 2008
One Comment

OfcomWatch Friday Film Festival: Tiscali under scrutiny…

Here's an instant classic: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cBVAu927mw[/youtube]
May 1st 2008
3 Comments

Rapture responds to OW post about Ofcom appeal…

This is Rapture thing is getting a bit tired. Isn't the fundamental problem here that satellite television carriage is just really expensive and under-capitalised firms who want to reach the public are better off just maintaining a web presence? I had the unfortunate task in my earlier job ...

Search

The archives run deep. Feel free to search older content using topic keywords.